ADVICE: Opinion

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I got accepted to go to Columbia or to University of Texas Austin for undergrad studies. I'm looking into medicine as a career.
As UT-Austin, I can graduate in about 2.5-3 years,
vs. Columbia=4 years.
Is it ok to assume that CU will give me a better chance to go to top notch med. schools (ie. JHU, etc?)</p>

<p>I feel uncomfortable with NYC thing...and feel that I did not do a good job with my college admissions process in high school.
If WORST comes to WORST, and I hate Columbia, then can I transfer to Cornell/Dartmouth/UPENN without much trouble? Will i lose credits?</p>

2

<p>Some Columbia students stay pretty much on campus and don't get out much into The City. But if you need wide open spaces and plenty of fresh air and peace and quiet or you don't like ethnic diversity--then a college in NYC is not for you. You will get an excellent education at Columbia and have plenty of bright people around you as well as good medical school chances. That said, UT Austin is also well-respected and if that option is cheaper and more compatible to you--it certainly would not prevent you from having a career in medicine. Don't make yourself needlessly unhappy.</p>

<p>What is it about NYC that makes you uncomfortable?</p>

3

<p>Because of my finanical situation, the cost is not that much of a issue in either case.</p>

<p>What makes me uncomfortable abt NYC:</p>

<p>I visited NYC for COlumbia's Days on Campus. Since I've been living in a cool, college small city called Denton, TX in the past 2 years, it's a different expereince.</p>

<p>I assume that there's central park (closE to CU's campuS) to go to for fresh air, space?</p>

<p>I guess NY is not as "laid-back", aslo it is unfamiliar to me. </p>

<p>I'm uncertain waht opportunties CU may have for me.</p>

<p>I guess it is bascially a lot of uncertainity and unfamilarity that makes me uncomfortable</p>

4

<p>If you were accepted by Columbia, you are bright--you will find the atmosphere challenging and stimulating--probably not laid back but New Yorkers are a tolerant bunch and will find you interesting and exotic. You can take as much as you want from the environment--stay buried in the labs and libraries--or get to know one of the greatest cities on earth. Cut-price Broadway tickets, first-class art museums, great internship opportunities--and Central Park--it's definitely not "the country" but a pleasant place to relax, observe --people or birds-- according to your taste--New York City can be a fabulous education all by itself. Most New Yorkers are originally from someplace else--the people-knowledge you gain from the city will serve you well as a doctor.</p>

<p>Another place to "chill out" from the City is a ride on the Staten Island Ferry--sea breezes and a fabulous view of the skyline and Statue of Liberty.</p>

<p>E.B. White in his essay "This is New York" said that to live there you must be willing to be "lucky".-- I say, go for it and you will be. </p>

<p>.</p>

5

<p>I've lived in and around NYC all of my life, and I just love it. I know an enormous number of people who have moved to NYC from all over the country (and the world, for that matter) who decide to stay permanently because they love it too. If you ask 100 different people who live or who have lived in NYC what they love and hate about the City, you will almost certainly get 100 different sets of answers with some overlap. </p>

<p>I'll give you some of mine:</p>

<p>Loves - running in Central Park in the early morning, walking along the Hudson in Riverside Park at sunset, theatre, on Broadway, off Broadway and off off Broadway, Lincoln Center, subways that take you almost everywhere you could want to go within the five boroughs of NYC, the hustle and bustle of midtown, riding the Staten Island ferry for a close up view of the Statue of Liberty, riding my bike over the Brooklyn Bridge, sitting in the bleachers at Yankees games, heading out to Coney Island to see the Cyclones play, Saturday afternoons at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, throwing a frisbee in Sheep's Meadow (part of Central Park) on a spring Sunday afternoon, heading to Astoria for Greek food and Brooklyn for Russian food, spending an afternoon with the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History, firemen with biscuits in their pockets for my puppy, the dry cleaner who knows my name, the Chinese delivery restaurant that knows what I want without me saying a word, Italian, Greek, Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, Diner, French bistro, burgers, Brazilian, Mexican, nuevo Latino and New Orleans style food all within 10 blocks of my apartment ...</p>

<p>Hates - traffic, crowded subways, sidewalks crowded with tourists in August and December, the hustle and bustle of midtown, housing prices, parking enforcement ...</p>

<p>You'll notice that some of my loves are also some of my hates. Typical for a New Yorker, I guess. Don't forget that if you ever need to "escape" the City, the beach is a one-hour train ride away, and you can always go sailing or wine tasting or skiing. </p>

<p>That said, people seem to either love or hate living in NYC without a lot of wishy-washy opinions in between. You can certainly try it, and move out if you really can't stand it.</p>